Jean-Francois by a nose

Nose guard Aubrayo Franklin missed the 49ers’ just concluded two-day organized team activity. Although that’s not the way it looked to burgeoning nose guard Ricky Jean-Francois. For the second-year player out of LSU, Franklin is always there, at least virtually.

Jean-Francois is trying to be Franklin’s backup after playing defensive tackle and end in college. “I look at film of him all the time,” Jean-Francois said. “He’s the Peyton Manning of nose tackles with his technique.”

For Jean-Francois to have success, he’ll have to not only mimic Franklin, but possibly make up a few moves of his own to play that demanding position. Franklin, who’s trying to work out a long-term deal with the 49ers after they designated him with the franchise tag, plays at a downright skinny 315 pounds. Many nose guards tip the toledos at 330 plus. Jean-Francois is an anorexic 295.

“The way he plays, he plays like a big guy,” Jean-Francois said of Franklin with wide-eyed admiration. “Just look at his technique; I’m real eager to learn.”

Head coach Mike Singletary doesn’t believe in players gaining or losing weight. He wants them to play in the body that best suits them, so Jean-Francois isn’t eating any midnight PB and J sandwiches. In fact, he says staying stout against the double team and a bulldozing fullback isn’t his problem.

“My footwork for the pass rush is the hardest part,” he said. “That’s what I’m working on now.”

Jean-Francois was the final player the 49ers chose in last year’s draft, and he spend most of last season on the inactive list. He emerged from LSU as a sometimes dominating player who exhibited inconsistent effort.

But following Franklin could be Jean-Francois’s ticket to making the team and grabbing playing time. Even if it means only following Franklin virtually.